Kapamilya actress Maris Racal candidly opened up about her past experiences with heartbreak and vulnerability in love during a press conference for her latest film, ‘Marupok A+,’ held on July 4 at My Cinema, Greenbelt 3.
When asked if she had ever been fragile in matters of love, and how she managed to move on, Maris did not hold back. She revealed that she went through intense emotional struggles in her love life.
“Kung ang movie natin A+, ako marupok AF. As in. Naalala ko sa sobrang rupok ko at broken-hearted, nakagawa ako ng album,” Maris confessed. She turned her heartbreak into music, creating an album as a way to channel her emotions, even joking about profiting from the experience. “Pinagkakitaan ko yung mga ginawa sa akin kasi, hello, kailangan ko ng pera. It’s me taking my power back. ‘Sinaktan mo ako, I’m gonna write a song about you,’” she added.
Reflecting on her early 20s, Maris admitted that she was very fragile and often needed deep breaths to cope, with her family and friends supporting her through those times. She emphasized that everyone goes through phases of vulnerability and that these experiences are part of growing and learning. She humorously turned the question back on the media, asking if they had ever been fragile in love, which drew laughter from the audience.
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When discussing the film ‘Marupok A+,’ Maris explained the character she portrays, Beanie/Theo, a dark and mean role that required significant preparation. She described Beanie as the darkest character she has ever played, a stark contrast to her previous wholesome roles. To prepare for this role, Maris watched numerous edgy and sociopathic films to understand and portray such a personality convincingly.
Despite the challenges, Maris found playing dark roles to be a fulfilling experience, noting that even antagonists have their fans. She expressed gratitude for the positive feedback she received for her performance in the movie.
Addressing the intimate scenes in the film, Maris humorously noted that her family, especially her mother, was unaware of these aspects. “Hindi ‘to alam ng family ko. Hindi alam ni Mama ‘tong film na ‘to, ang alam niya lang Can’t Buy Me Love sa TV. Pero yung mga ganitong pelikula hindi niya pa napapanood ‘cause my mom is like Mama Mary. Kapag siguro mga 80 years old na sila, hindi na sila makasampal,” she joked.
‘Marupok A+,’ formerly titled ‘Marupok AF (Where is The Lie),’ premiered at the 2023 Cinemalaya Film Festival and is directed by Quark Henares under Anima Studio and First Cut Lab. The film, which addresses themes of catfishing and online predators using fake identities on dating apps, also stars EJ Jallorina and Royce Cabrera. Maris described the movie’s plot, where her character, Beanie/Theo, goes to great lengths to win the affection of Janzen (EJ) with the help of Dennis (Royce), who pretends to be Theo.
‘Marupok A+’ is set to premiere in Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide on July 10. The film features Gabby Padilla, Chai Fonacier, and a special participation by Cristine Reyes. It received Special Jury Recognition at the 2023 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and also premiered at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival.
